Antivirus Is Dead: How EDR Is Revolutionising Computer Security
In this post, we explore why traditional antivirus solutions are no longer sufficient in today’s threat landscape and how Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is stepping up to the challenge.
In the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, threats are becoming more sophisticated, persistent, and elusive. The days of relying solely on traditional antivirus software to protect endpoints (computers) are numbered. Enter Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)—a game-changing technology that redefines how organisations defend their digital assets. All our IT Support plans now include EDR as a baseline.
The Antivirus Era
For decades, antivirus solutions (Legacy AV and NGAV) have been the stalwarts of endpoint security. They scan files, compare them against known malware signatures, and block or quarantine threats. However, this approach has several limitations:
- Signature-Based Detection: Antivirus relies on a database of known malware signatures. If a threat isn’t in the database, it goes undetected.
- Reactive Approach: Antivirus reacts to threats after they’ve infiltrated the system. By then, the damage may already be done.
- False Positives and Negatives: Antivirus can generate false positives (flagging legitimate files as threats) or miss sophisticated zero-day attacks.

The Rise of EDR
EDR takes a different approach—one that is proactive, intelligent, and adaptive. Here’s how EDR is revolutionising endpoint security:
- Continuous Monitoring – EDR solutions continuously monitor endpoints, collecting vast amounts of telemetry data. This data includes process execution, network connections, registry changes, and more. By analysing this rich dataset, EDR detects anomalies and suspicious behaviour.
- Behavioural Analysis – Rather than relying solely on signatures, EDR focuses on behaviour. It looks for patterns that deviate from the norm. For example:
- A legitimate computer process that spawns a suspicious child process
- Unauthorised lateral movement of data within the network
- Unusual registry modifications
- Threat Hunting – EDR enables proactive threat hunting. We can query the telemetry data, search for IOCs (Indicators of Compromise), and investigate potential threats. This hunting capability helps identify hidden threats that evade traditional defences.
- Automated Response – When EDR detects a threat, it can take immediate action. This might involve isolating the affected endpoint, killing malicious processes, or blocking network communication. Automation speeds up incident response and reduces the danger of the infection spreading.
- Incident Visibility – During investigations, EDR provides a timeline of events, showing how the threat entered, propagated, and interacted with other systems. This visibility is invaluable for understanding the scope of a breach.
So what should businesses do to protect themselves?
Antivirus isn’t entirely dead yet (IT companies are still selling it!), but it’s no longer the sole defender of endpoints. EDR can replace an antivirus by providing real-time detection, proactive threat hunting, and automated response. As cyber threats evolve, organisations must embrace EDR to stay ahead of the game.
If you aren’t sure what cybersecurity software is protecting your business, get in touch with Revolution for an IT health check!